Hanging and storage mechanism



Dec. 12, 1967 K. J. HAGLE, SR, ETAL HANGING AND STORAGE MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 31, 1964 Dec. 12, 1967 K. J. HAGLE, SR, ETAL HANGING AND STORAGE MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 31, 1964 United States Patent 3,357,570 HANGING AND STORAGE MECHANISM Kenneth J. Hagle, .Sr., 3102 Parkwood St. 48601, and Joseph J. Trogan, 904 S. Michigan Ave. 48602, both of Saginaw, Mich.

Filed July 31, 1964, Ser. No. 386,641 1 Claim. (Cl. 211-425) This invention relates to a support for facilitating the storing and hanging of a multiplicity of articles of utility without lessening the ability of the intended user of such articles to have ready access thereto. More specifically, this invention relates to an improved hanger and storage mechanism so constructed as to maintain in readily accessible positions a large number of articles hung and/or stored on particularly configured and positioned hanger-support portions of the mechanism.

In the use of inherently fumblesome articles of utility, such as bobby pins, keys, jewelry, etc., various devices have been constructed to facilitate the individual handling of such articles. These devices are commonly called trees or racks and will hereinafter in this specification be referred to as racks. The use of such racks, how ever, has been restricted for the reasons which follow, among others.

First, while an object thereof is generally to render readily accessible the articles hanging or stored on such racks, in most instances this object is not accomplished; for example, it is common among such racks that the storage or hanging of the articles in question thereon is in itself a rather awkward and fumblesome project.

Second, the construction of the racks presently known is such that frequently they occupy a volume of space vastly in excess of the articles they are used to store, thereby precluding their use where space considerations exist.

Third, the complexity of the construction of known racks is in many instances such as to inherently require prohibitively large sums of money for their construction and therefore for their purchase; it is believed that this is one reason that none of the presently known racks have found their way into any large segment of the homes of the public at large, nor the offices and/or places of business of those who might otherwise desire their use.

Fourth, the racks presently known which are relatively simple in construction and inexpensive to purchase have been found to be limited as to use, either as to the number or variety of articles which may be stored or hung thereon.

While it is believed that many attempts have been made to provide a simple, inexpensive mechanism achieving the objects set forth below, for one or more of the reasons set forth above and/or others, none of these attempts have resulted in the construction of racks which have been found completely suitable or universally used, as far as is known.

According to the present invention, it has been found that the defects of prior art devices concerned with the storage and hanging of a multiplicity of fumblesorne objects may be obviated by means of a simple, highly versatile, inexpensive mechanism.

It is a feature of the invention that a mechanism according thereto may be constructed from readily available materials. It is a further feature of this invention that a mechanism constructed according thereto may permit with great facility both the storage thereon and removal therefrom of a relatively large number of individually fumblesome articles. It is also a feature of this invention that with little effort on the part of the user and with no modification to the basic principles of the invention, a wide variety of hanging and storage mechanisms may be constructed so as to permit their use with structurally differing articles. It is yet another feature of the invention that the cost of mechanisms according to the present invention may be maintained at such a low level that their purchase by even low income individuals would be economically feasible.

It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide a mechanism which will permit the ready hanging and storage thereon of a multiplicity of articles of utility and yet, with great facility, permit their removal therefrom.

It is another object of the invention to provide a mechanism of the foregoing type which may be constructed at low cost by means of readily available materials which nevertheless permit suitable operation of the mechanism according to the invention.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a mechanism of the foregoing type which is adapted to be constructed in a wide range of sizes and shapes and which may be readily usable with a wide variety of articles of utility.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a mechanism which occupies a volume of space not inordinately in excess of that normally occupied by the articles of utility with which it is designed to be associated.

These and further objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon reference to the following specification, claim, and appended drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of one form of support and hanger mechanism according to the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a section view, taken along section line AA of FIGURE 1 disclosing the arcuate positioning of the support and hanger elements shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary enlarged section disclosing one manner in which support and hanger elements according to the invention may be attached to the hanger-and-storage-element support.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 3 illustrating a modified form of hanger-attachment.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURES 3 and 4 illustrating another modified form of hanger-attachment.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary vertical section disclosing one manner of attaching the hanger support to the base of the mechanism according to the invention.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 6 illustrating a modified form of attaching the hanger sup port element to the base of the mechanism according to the invention.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary elevation view of another form of hanger mechanism according to the present invention.

FIGURE 9 is the top view of the hanger mechanism shown in FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary elevation view of still another form of hanger mechanism according to the present invention.

FIGURE 11 is a top view of the hanger mechanism shown in FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary elevation view of still another form of hanger mechanism according to the present invention.

FIGURE 13 is a top view of the hanger mechanism shown in FIGURE 12.

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged view of the spring clip mechanism utilized in the form of hanger mechanism shown in FIGURES l2 and 13.

FIGURE 15 is a view of one of the component parts of a form of hanger mechanism according to the present invention which incorporates an expansible column.

Referring more particularly to the figures of the drawing, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a mechanism 2 according to the present invention. It may be seen, in FIGURE 1, that the mechanism 2 includes a base 4 having upper and lower surfaces with a plurality of supports 6 positioned about the outer periphery of. its lower surface. Base 4 is further provided, on its upper surface, with a generally concave section 8. Attached to base 4 in a manner which will be more completely described hereinafter, is column 10, preferably of generally cylindrical shape. Protruding from one end of column is rod to which is attached head 14. Positioned about the periphery of column 10 are a multiplicity of hanger and support elements 12.

As may be seen from FIGURE 2 of the drawing, hanger and support elements 12 are P eferably peripherally disposed about cOlllmn 10 at 45 degree intervals and slope slightly upwardly and away from column 10 so as to facilitate the placement and maintenance of articles of utility on elements 12.

According to a specific embodiment of the invention, base 4 may be 7 inches in diameter and 1 /2 inches thick. Concave depression 8 may extend downwardly of an inch from the plane formed by the uppermostsurface of base 4. Hanger and support elements 12 may be constructed of 11 gauge B & S Wire .090 inch in diameter and 3 /4 inches long. The diameter of column 10 may be 1 inches. The overall height of the mechanism to the top of the column, exclusive of head 14, may be 18 /2 inches. As will be explained subsequently in greater detail, the dimensions and configurations of particularly column 10, hanger and support elements 12 and head 14 may be varied considerably depending on such considerations as the number and configuration of the articles of utility with which the mechanism is intended to be used.

FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 disclose alternative structures for associating the hanger and support elements 12 with column 10. As best shown in FIGURE 3, it may be seen that hanger and support elements 12 may be threaded at one terminal portion and complementary threads provided in apertures 16 in column 10. FIG- URE 4 discloses that the discloses that the. diameter of hanger and support elements 12 maybe slightly larger than that of their associated apertures 18 in column 19. In such a situation the fit between the hanger and support elements 12 and their associated openings would be a pressed fit. FIGURE 5 discloses that the hanger and support elements 12 may also be held or attached to column 10 by means of a swedged engagement between terminal portions of the hanger and support elements 12 and the innermost end of their associated apertures 20 in column 10.

Referring to FIGURES 6 and 7, it may be seen that the particular manner of attaching column 10 to base 4 may include a pin 24 engaging both column 10 and base 4. In FIGURE 6, pin .24 is shown as pressed into openings26 and 28 in column 10 and base 4 respectively. It is to be understood that pin 24 may be molded in either the base or the column and complementary openings provided in either the column or the base repectively to receive the pin in a pressed fit. Such a structure as shown in FIGURE 6 will result in a rigid, nonmovable relationship existing between column 10 and base 4.

In FIGURE 7 there is disclosed a pin 30, similar to pin 24 disclosel in FIGURE 6, press fitted into an opening 40 in column 10. Base 4 in FIGURE 7 is provided with an axial opening 38 of diameter in excess of that of pin 30 so as to permit free relative movement between the outer periphery of pin 30 and the inner periphery of opening 38. The lower surface of base 4 is provided with a recessed portion at 36 to facilitate the exposure of the lower terminal portion of pin 30 above the lower surface of base 4. A groove 32 is positioned on pin 30 a distance from the lower terminal portion of column 10 approximately equal to the thickness of portion 42 of base 4. O-ring retainer 34 is positioned in groove 32 so as to maintain pin 30, and its associated column 10, within opening 38 in base 4. This latter embodiment of the invention permits the free relative rotation of the column and its associated hanger and support elements with respect to the base.

The materials used in the manufacture of the various parts of mechanism 2 may be selected from readily available and inexpensive materials such as plastics, woods and metals. The use of any particular material will depend largely on such factors as the intended use of the mechanism with particular cosideration being given to the nature of the article of utility intended to be used therewith. For example, if it were intended to hang and support articles of utility such as hair curlers 44 (see FIGURE 1) on hanger and support elements 12, particular consideration need not be given to the construction of such elements inasmuch as either plastic, wood, or metal could function suitably to support such elements. Conversely, however, if it were desired to hang relatively heavy or sharp cornered elements on hanger and support elements 12 so that excessive damage could be expected from the repeated sliding of such articles over the length of relatively soft hanger and support elements, it may be considered preferable to construct such elements of relatively rigid and non-wearing metal or plastic rather than possibly of soft wood. With respect to supports 6, it has been found preferable to construct such supports of non-marring material such as rubber so as to preclude the possibility of damaging highly polished surfaces upon which mechanism 2 may be placed during use.

The configuration of the various elements of the mechanism according to the invention, as previously indicated, may be varied within certain limits and yet retain the basic principles of the invention. For example, While it has been found preferable to construct head 14 in the form shown in FIGURE 1, it may, under certain circumstances, be desirable to construct this element more clearly in the form of a handle to facilitate the movement of the mechanism from place to place. It is to be understood, however, that even the illustrated construction of head 14 in FIGURE 1 will enable the user thereof to transport mechanism 2 from place to place. This may be done simply by (a) grasping the sides of the narrowest portion of this form of head between the index and middle fingers of one hand, (b) pressing the thumb of this hand downwardly on the top of the head, and (c) lifting the mechanism upwardly with these fingers grasping the head as just described. Head 14 may be secured to rod 15 in any one of the alternative ways that hanger and support elements 12 may be secured to column 10, among others. The material from which head 14 may be constructed is preferably highly polished metal.

Modifications may be made to the mechanism according to the present invention in addition to those set forth above. For example, washers and collar elements may be incorporated into a base structure similar to that disclosed in FIGURE 7 to facilitate a low friction swivel movement between column 10 and base 4 and also to insure the retention of O-ring retainer element 34 within groove 32 in pin 30.

Particularly with respect to the form of the invention disclosed in FIGURE 7, it should be noted that column 10 may assume various configurations and hanger and support elements 12 may be positioned on column 10 in schemes different from thatdisclosed in FIGURES 1 and 2. For example, such elements may be positioned at circumferential intervals other than 45 and at vertical intervals other than the relative intervals generally indicated in FIGURE 1. Such varying hanger and support element positioning schemes have been found to depend on considerations such as the configuration of the articles of utility designed to be hung and/ or stored on the mechan sm.

Also, the configuration of the hanger and support elements 12 themselves may be varied within considerable limits. For example, a ring-sprin type support 12a may be utilized in the instant invention asshown in FIGURES 8 and 9. Such a support is composed of a cross rod-support '48 fixed tocolumn 10. Support 48 is attached to diam'etra'lly opposed portions of support 12a which, in the embodiment of the instant invention shown in FIGURES 8 and 9, is a segmented but circularly composite spring band. The segmented portions 50 of spring band support 1211 are preferably constructed of spring steel and are preferably constructed with generally S shaped but complementary overlapping terminal portions 52. S shaped portions 52 of spring support 12 are merely an overlapping contact with each other; the tendency of each of the se'gmented portions 50 of this spring support to resist bending of terminal portions '52 about their points of attachment to cross rod 48 results in a firm but readily releasable engagement between the opposing surfaces of S shaped portions 52 of this form of support. If it be desired to hang or store an article of utility on a support such as that shown in FIGURES 8 and 9, this may be accomplished in one of two ways depending on the configuration of the article in question.

If the article is generally circular in configuration, or has any portion of its structure such as to present an entirely surrounded aperture therein having its smallest dimension of size greater than the cross-section of support 12a as shown in FIGURES 8 and 9, the article may be hung or stored on such a support by first separating either of the overlapping terminal portions 52 by pressing upwardly and/or outwardly on one such section while (a) holding the other terminal portion firmly in place of (b) simultaneously pressing downwardly and/ or inwardly on such other terminal portion. Upon the passage of the article about one such terminal portion, pressure is released therefrom and the resiliency of the spring segmented portions will return their terminal portions to the relative position shown in FIGURES 8 and 9. Articles such as rings, washers, keys, screw eyes, jewelry and bags are particularly suited to being firmly yet releasably hung and/ or stored on this particular type of support structure.

The disposition of a large number of articles on the ring-type spring support structure disclosed in FIGURES 8 and 9 may necessitate the utilization of either a high resistance spring steel to be used in the construction of such a support and/ or the incorporation of a simple catch mechanism in conjunction with the engaging terminal portions 52 thereof to mitigate against the possibility of an unintentional separation of these portions of the support structure due to the weight of the articles of utility hung or stored thereon.

Cross rod supports 48 and their associated ring-spring type supports can be assembled to column 10 of the instant invention by either molding the cross rod in one piece to column 10 or by drilling holes into column 10 and thereafter inserting the cross rod support therethrough or by any other conventional assembly method such as that which would incorporate welding, brazing or soldering the elements of this subassembly together.

FIGURES 12, 13 and 14 disclose another configuration which may be assumed by support elements 12a according to the instant invention. This embodiment of the invention, incorporating as it does into supports 12a a spring clip arrangement, i particularly suited to the storage or hanging from the mechanism of the instant invention of such articles as may be easily yet firmly and securely clasped by the spring clip structure best disclosed in FIGURE 14 at 56.

It is a feature of the invention that the overall configuration of column 10 may be altered as desired by the in- 6 corporation into the hanging and storage mechanism of a dismantling type or collapsible type column. FIGURE 15 discloses one element of which, for example, a dismantling type column may be composed. This element, designated as 58 in FIGURE 15, includes male and female threaded portions 'at 62 and "60 respectively. By ass'er'nbling a series of such elements in tandem arrangethem a column of any length may be constructed. Similarly by "constructing one of such elements in Y configuration. that is with one male portion and two or more female portions, hanging and support mechanisms according to the instant invention may be constructed in a 'wide variety of overall configurations to suit particular needs. Similarly by constructing the column from a collapsible or telescopingi interfittin series of elements a column of varying or adjustable heights may be construct'ed.

It is a particular feature of the invention that column 10 and its associated hanger and support elements 12 may be readily removed from base 4 simply by the dislocation of'O-ring retainer 34 from groove 32 in pin 30. Having reference to FIGURE 7-, it ma readily be seen that such a configuration for the mechanism lends itself to the ready removal of a particular column and its associated elements and the association with the same base 4 of a column and associated elements somewhat different in construction from that previously removed except for the configuration of pin 30 and its associated groove 32 which, with respect to any given base structure, must remain relatively inflexible. This feature of the invention permits a high degree of flexibility of the instant invention and permits its use in a wide variety of applications.

The provision of concave surface 8 in base 4 is preferred for the purpose of either (a) storing several of the articles which are intended to be positioned on hanger and support elements 12 at a future time or (b) storing elements which may be used in conjunction with the articles of utility which are hung or stored on hanger and support elements 12 for example, in the latter situation, a plurality of hair pins 46 may be stored in concave section 8 when hair curler elements 44 are placed upon hanger and support elements 12.

It may 'be seen from the foregoing that the instant invention provides a mechanism which greatly facilitates the placement of articles of utility of a Wide variety of sizes, configurations and uses upon extremely accessible hanger and support elements 12. The removal of any number of articles from their associated support elements need not render inaccessible the remainder of the hung and supported elements if a swivel based configuration for the mechanism is chosen. Furthermore, if space or other considerations require column structures of unusually long or Y shaped or T shaped or otherwise configured column structures, such may be used with an ordinary base structure simply by providing on the bottom of such a column a pin element so configured so as to be complementally received within a central opening in the base element and secured therein by means of a simple O-ring retainer structure.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claim rather than by the foregoing description and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claim are therefore intended to be embraced thereby.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent:

In a hanging and storage mechanism for use with articles of utility capable of being supported by association with supports extending outwardly from an upstanding element extending from an abutting base structure,

complementary plug and socket configuration on said upstanding element and said base structure, said plug configuration comprising a single cylindrical pin having a uniform radius a portion of which is press fitted into an opening in the upstanding element and a further portion of the pin extending into the socket formed in the base structure, a flat retainer member associated with and readily removable from a circular detent surface provided on said plug configuration and adapted to be cooperatively engaged with the peripheralwalls of said socket configuration so as to preclude separation of said plug from said socket whereby said retainer, plug and wall are in engagement, yet permit separation thereof upon the disengagement of said retainer from said wall, said plug and socket configuration being such as to permit substantial relative movement therebetween about the axis of said upstanding element, support elements disposed about said upstanding elemeut, said support elements including a cross rod support having attached to at least one terminal portion thereof, a ring structure composed of spring material for engaging and releasably holding in engagement therewith at least one complementary shaped article of utility, said ring structure being diametrically segmented to consist of complementary overlapping terminal portions which when mated remain engaged exclusively as a result of design and material characteristics of said ring structure but one readily separable for inserting and hanging about said ring articles of utility.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,043,387 11/1912 Astruck 248150 1,265,016 5/1918 Williams 211163 1,405,194 1/1922 Ferdon 2116 1,482,649 2/1924 Hayden 2l1125 1,524,300 1/1925 Gottlieb 2l1-l63 1,742,164 12/1929 Berke 2l1-l68 2,313,141 3/1943 Garratt 2l1133 2,760,258 8/1956 Rieger 29229 2,889,650 6/1959 Hankus 16l24 3,144,375 8/1964 Day 16l-24 ROY D. F RAZIER, Primary Examiner.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Examiner.

W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner. 

